FUNGAL CULTURES ON CYANOACRYLATE SKIN SURFACE STRIPPINGS AS A DOSE-FINDING METHOD FOR TOPICAL ANTIFUNGALS - A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY WITH0-CENTER-DOT-25-PERCENT AND 0-CENTER-DOT-50-PERCENT ITRACONAZOLE CREAM

The antimycotic activities of 0.25% and 0.50% itraconazole cream were compared in the stratum corneum after once-daily applications for 1 we ek. Two groups of 12 healthy volunteers applied either itraconazole or placebo on the inner side of each forearm, in a double-blind design. Cyanoacrylate skin surface strippings (CSSS) were taken on days 8, 11 and 21. Conidia or yeasts of selected fungi (Trichophyton rubrum, Tric hophyton metagrophytes, Microsporum canis and Candida albicans) were d eposited on CSSS. Fungal growth on CSSS was assessed in time by comput erized image analysis to derive the inhibitory effect of the previousl y applied antifungal preparations. Comparable antimycotic activity was found against dermatophytes for both concentrations. Itraconazole 0.5 0% appeared to be more active than 0.25% against C. albicans. The 0.50 % concentration yielded prominent fungitoxic effect after 1 week of tr eatment, and showed a lingering effect in the stratum corneum for at l east 3 days. This method could be useful in a pre-clinical setting and serve as a predictive tool for further clinical dose-finding studies with topical antimycotics.